The effort to rejuvenate the St. Monica's neighbourhood has stepped up a notch with a host of public agencies working hand in hand with a community action group.

At a meeting Thursday night, some 70 people turned up to hear the revived game plan. The St. Monica's Action Group has been working for the past four years to rid the community of drug dealers.

Now, the neighbourhood, in the area known as North Village, has direct cell phone access to a three person team of Police officers and a community worker from the Family Learning Centre.

Also linking up with the group are the National Drug Commission, the Bermuda Youth Counselling Centre, the National Training Board and Salvation Army.

Audience members left with a positive vibe after the one-hour meeting which was attended by MPs for the area, Ottiwell Simmons and Nelson Bascome, as well as the Department of Human Affairs' Kenneth Dill.

"I feel that they will do some type of justice working in the area. We need to work together as a committee and everybody has to stick together and we all have to be a big family," said a mother of three.

"There are more people now involved and there's more people that need to get involved. I'm glad that I saw some people here who have more power than me. I'm positive about a lot of things... It's not only for me it's for my children. We are looking at the future, you know, the new generation."

Lighting in the area will be improved and, says Romel Woolridge the community worker, a drop in centre will be established in the neighbourhood to be eventually run by members of the community.

"Everybody is really hyped up and on fire to make this community a better community," said Mr. Simmons. "And I am full of energy. They have filled me and given me a full tank."

Pembroke East Central ruling party candidate Ashfield DeVent described it all as a "positive start". He was particularly impressed to hear of plans to develop the band room property and revitalise the North Village junior band.

"And even this new initiative with the Police officers - that's a great move."

The Group has even started a newsletter, called St. Monica's Update for now - a competition has been launched to find a permanent name.

And a Village motto has been agreed: "If we do nothing we are doomed to fail. If we unite we are destined to succeed."

A Community Reunion celebration will be held next weekend with marching bands, Gombeys, a mini marathon and other activities on Saturday, November 23. A special thanksgiving service will take place at St. Monica's church the following day.

"One of the things that we have been happy with is, whilst we look at most of the stalwart residents, we continue to also invite the younger people to be a part." He added: "If we could save one life at a time that's the way in which we are going. But it's a very positive community effort we have been working at for four years."

The "biggest change" is having all the community service agencies on board, including the Bermuda Housing Corporation, the Planning department, Focus counselling and Harbour Lights.

"Everyone is really upbeat. I can see that the spirits have lifted." He noted that most of Bermuda's leaders come out of the North Village area, including Bermuda's first black canon, Thomas Nesbitt.

Motivational speaker Steadman Graham dropped in to visit just as the meeting had ended. He told the remaining audience members that he himself was part of a community rejuvenation effort in his old neighbourhood in Chicago.

He urged the people to continue to take the lead in resolving the concerns of the neighbourhood. Organisation, he said, was essential. And he said, they should not allow others to label them.

"We allow people to take control of our lives... They use television, they use all kinds of things to keep us in a box," he said. "They try to define me as Oprah's boyfriend all the time. But I refuse to stay in that box."

He said that keeping hope alive was also important. "When you lose hope and you have no vision, the people perish. So what you are doing tonight is you are developing a vision for yourself based on where you want to go."